faithful

[ feyth-fuhl ]

adjective

1. true to one's word, promises, vows, etc.
2. steady in allegiance or affection; loyal; constant:

   faithful friends.

   Synonyms: staunch, devoted, true

3. reliable, trusted, or believed.
4. strict or thorough in the performance of duty:

   a faithful worker.

5. adhering or true to fact, a standard, or an original; accurate:

   a faithful account;

   a faithful copy.

   Synonyms: exact, precise

6. Obsolete. full of faith; believing.

noun

1. the faithful,
   1. the believers, especially members of a Christian church or adherents of Islam.
   2. the body of loyal members of any party or group.

faithful

/ ˈfeɪθfʊl /

adjective

1. having faith; remaining true, constant, or loyal
2. maintaining sexual loyalty to one's lover or spouse
3. consistently reliable

   a faithful worker

4. reliable or truthful

   a faithful source

5. accurate in detail

   a faithful translation

noun

1. the faithful
   1. the believers in and loyal adherents of a religious faith, esp Christianity
   2. any group of loyal and steadfast followers

Derived Forms

• ˈfaithfully, adverb
• ˈfaithfulness, noun

Other Words From

• faith·ful·ly adverb
• faith·ful·ness noun
• o·ver·faith·ful adjective
• pseu·do·faith·ful adjective
• qua·si-faith·ful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of faithful¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; faith, -ful

Synonym Study

Faithful, constant, loyal imply qualities of stability, dependability, and devotion. Faithful implies long-continued and steadfast fidelity to whatever one is bound to by a pledge, duty, or obligation: a faithful friend. Constant suggests firmness and steadfastness in attachment: a constant affection. Loyal implies unswerving allegiance to a person, organization, cause, or idea: loyal to one's associates, one's country.

Example Sentences

Then there’s the added challenge of making a film that is both faithful to the cherished stage production and accessible to audiences who are entirely unfamiliar with the show.

From Salon

But “Wicked” will delight fans of the stage production as a faithful adaptation that is at once playful but reverent to the iconic “Defying Gravity.”

From Los Angeles Times

The message, therefore, to English naysayers from the Welsh rugby faithful should be clear.

From BBC

When he starred at Ohio State, the Buckeye faithful called their running back “All Day J.K.”

From Los Angeles Times

Dealing decisively with that one crucial issue might well have helped in his mission to build unity and in helping stem a decline in the numbers of faithful.

From BBC

Related Words

• affectionate
• ardent
• conscientious
• dependable
• devoted
• dutiful
• hard-core
• honest
• honorable
• loving
• obedient
• patriotic
• resolute
• scrupulous
• sincere
• staunch
• steadfast
• true
• trustworthy
• trusty